Lady Lever Artwork of the Month – July

‘Knucklebones’, by Phillip Wilson Steer
Free picture of the month talks will be held on 14 and 26 July at 1pm.

This depiction of children playing is one of the outstanding seaside images of the late nineteenth century. The unusual viewpoint and the relaxed pose of the girl reclining on the right are reminiscent of works by Degas. Steer has used small spots of bright colour to recreate the pebbly beach. This technique suggests he was familiar with the Neo-Impressionist work of George Seurat. ‘Knucklebones’ is one of eight Steers shown at the one and only exhibition of the London Impressionists held in 1889.